Consumer Protection
The BCCA offers free brochures that provide tips on how to prevent fraud and avoid being the victim of con games. Individuals who suspect they are being victimized should contact their local Police or Sheriff Department or the Office of the Attorney General at 1-800-243-5377. For more information on preventing crime against older adults, click here for information on the Boone County Triad -
Elder Abuse and Neglect Program
This Department on Aging program assists people 60 and older who are victims of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. Services are coordinated through local agencies that investigate and assess reports and can include everything from housing, money management, in-home care and legal assistance to respite care and counseling. Illinois has a limited mandatory reporting law, which requires certain professionals to make reports of older persons who are unable, due to dysfunction, to report for themselves. To report abuse or for more information call 1-800-252-8966 (Voice & TTY) 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, or 1-800-279-0400 after 5:00 p.m., weekends and holidays. Or contact BCCA at 815-544-9893 for further information or assistance.
TRIAD
Reducing Crime Against Older Adults
What is TRIAD?
Major polls indicate that crime and fear of crime impact severely on older adults. TRIAD is a three way partnership among the sheriff, chief of police, and older adults in the community. These three groups come together to share information, resources, and experience so that their community is a safer place for older adults to live.
TRIAD's give older adults the opportunity to share their needs and concerns about safety and crime with the community. Through the local TRIAD, older adults are given a chance to find solutions to fight crime.
TRIAD's assess and address the needs of the elderly in the community by finding out what problems exist and collaboratively developing ways to meet the needs.
What Can TRIAD Do?
TRIAD sponsored activities can include the following:
- Educating older adults on crime prevention and how to report crime.
- Starting or expanding a neighborhood watch program.
- Home security information.
- Getting the word out about current frauds and scams.
- Tips on coping with telephone or door-to-door salesmen.
- Senior Police Academy
- Emergency medical preparedness.
Why Is TRIAD Needed?
TRIAD is need to address the problems of crimes against the older adults including:
- Violent Crime
- Property Crime
- Elder Abuse
- Frauds and Scams
- Disaster Preparedness
TRIAD Members/Partners
- Boone County Council on Aging - 815-544-9893
- Visiting Nurses Association - 815-971-3502
- Retired and Senior Volunteer Program - 815-963-7787
- Boone County Sheriff's Department - 815-544-9322
- Belvidere Police Department - 815-544-9626
- Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging - 815-226-4901
Please join us in fighting crimes against older adults. Volunteers are need to attend monthly TRIAD meetings and volunteer in crime prevention activities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOONE COUNTY TRIAD, PLEASE CALL
Boone County Council on Aging
"The Keen Age Center"
2141 Henry Luckow Lane, Belvidere
815-544-9893 (Voice & TDD)
Citizens Police Academy
The Belvidere Police Department conducts a Citizen's Police Academy each year.
During the 6 week course, citizens learn about patrol procedures, the workings of the police, sheriff and corrections departments, crime investigations and much more.
Instructors for the class come from the Belvidere Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's Department and the Illinois State Police. Mayor Fred Brereton and Allen Fore from the Illinois Attorney General's Northern Illinois office have also instructed participants.
Through the CPA the BPD makes valuable partnerships and friends who assist in our effort to improve the quality of life for all the citizens of Belvidere. Alumni's assist the department with Neighborhood Watch, National Night Out, Safe Night for kids, and I-Search programs. Some of our alumni have become members of our Auxiliary Police Department.
The Citizen Police and Public Safety Academy is scheduled for six (6) consecutive Wednesdays each year, usually in the spring, here at the Keen Age Center, 2141 Henry Luckow Lane, Belvidere. The academy runs from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Typcial topics covered include:
Crime Prevention, Traffic Patrol Procedures, Practical Exercise,
Group Photo, Living Wills/Powers of Attorney (States Attorney's Office), Theft or Misuse of Powers of Attorney, States Attorney" What to Expect as a Victim", K-9 Demo, Domestic Violence Panel, "How our Community is Dealing with Homeland Security Issues", and on the last day Graduation with Mayor Brereton and the Citizen Corps. Please call the Keen Age Center at 544-9893 for more information or to register for the program.
Your Law Enforcement All Points Bulletin
By Sgt. Temple
The following information was received from Ken Clark in his monthly Elderly Services Officers newsletter. The information pertains to the Fair Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2004 (FACT ACT).
This Act was signed into law December 2003, but many of the provisions are only now being implemented. The Law has strengthened many of the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970.
The FACT ACT provides consumers with a free credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus, from a single, centralized source. During the next year information will come out advising consumers that they will have access to their credit records with a single call. The Act will create a national fraud alert system to simplify the consumer's ability to report suspicious activity regarding their accounts. Other provisions of the FACT ACT include:
-
Notifying consumers that negative information that could harm their credit worthiness will be reported to credit bureaus.
- Providing consumers enhanced medical privacy protection.
- Requiring creditors to take specific precautions to ensure that new credit applications are legitimate when consumers place "fraud alerts" on their credit reports.
- Prohibiting merchants from printing more than the last five (5) digits of a credit card number on a receipt.
- Requiring banks to develop and promote policies to combat identity theft and credit card fraud to protect the consumers it serves.
Scam alert:
Never give out any bank account information over the internet or phone unless you made the contact. The bad guys are e-mailing people stating that they are with a bank, i.e. Citibank. They may say they are conducting an audit of all accounts and ask you to send them your account information so they can complete the audit, or they may say they are doing a check on a bad teller or checking the security policies of the bank. Never give out this type of information.
Another scam occurs when you receive a check in the mail for an amount like $4000.00 made out to you. The next day you will receive letter telling you that you received the check in error, and that they ask you to send them a check for $3000.00, and you can keep the other $1000 for your trouble. The problem is that the original check is no good.
By the way, the check usually comes from Canada.
Beware, they come up with new scams every day!
TRIAD 911 EMERGENCY PHONES
In an every changing world, where emergencies occur fast, would a 911 emergency phone help you? TRIAD in partnership with the Belvidere Police Department and the BCCA/Keen Age Center have a 911 phone program dedicated to older citizens receiving a 911 phone and receiving training on how to use it. These free phones are refurbished phones programmed to call just 911. They do not call any other numbers. To apply for one of these phone make an appointment with one of our Outreach workers and they will charge a phone and show you how it works. If you have any questions call the Keen Age Center at 815-544-9893.